Martin Ward, manafacturer relationships manager, CAP, scours the globe for the week's insider fleet intelligence

Monday

Down to MG Motor UK’s Longbridge base to hear about the brand’s future plans, which include a new upper-medium saloon model due later next year.

Currently, 270 engineers are working on the new saloon, which will be based on the Chinese market Roewe 550, itself based on the old Rover 75/MG ZT.

The new model, likely to be called MG-Six, will be offered as a four-door saloon and five-door hatchback.

The upper-medium sector is not an easy place to be right now as the market is shrinking.

This is unlikely to get any better in late 2010, so MG will have a battle on its hands.

MG is currently building its dealer network and brand awareness in readiness for the new fleet model.

At present only the MG TF roadster is assembled at Longbridge.

MG has recently added a new entry-level model to this two-seater range – the 135 priced at £13,500, which seems good value to me.

Thursday

Hyundai held its European fleet conference in Pisa and invited more than 100 guests, including fleet and leasing companies, rental firms and valuation guides from around Europe.

Hyundai also brought out its big guns, including the European president Ike Oh.

Hyundai will launch 13 all-new or refreshed cars by 2012, including a upper-medium sector saloon and a compact people carrier, both currently under development.

The latter will arrive next year and will be a rival to the Toyota Verso, Vauxhall Zafira and Volkswagen Touran.

Also on the cards is the ix35 – a two and four-wheel drive SUV to replace the Tucson and based on the ix-onic concept car shown at the Geneva show earlier this year.

Hyundai also confirmed a new coupé which will have one door on the driver’s side and two on the passenger side. Unlike the Mini Clubman, Hyundai will change the door arrangements between left and right-hand drive markets.

The Matrix replacement is due next year and will have a diesel engine with CO2 emissions of under 120g/km.

The Genesis Coupé is likely to have a price tag of around e27,000 in Europe, but it is doubtful it will be sold in the UK.

President Oh told us that Hyundai’s fleet business in Europe was up 33% in 2008, compared to 2007, and sales in the UK are up 1.9% in a market down by 29%